Editing Monarchy of the United Kingdom (section)

====Other royal prerogatives====

Before a bill passed by the legislative Houses can become law, [[royal assent]] (the monarch's approval) is required.{{Sfnp|Crabbe|1994|p=17}} In theory, assent can either be granted (making the bill law) or withheld (vetoing the bill), but since 1708 assent has always been granted.<ref>{{Citation |title=Royal Assent |date=24 January 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/82104.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82104.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The sovereign has a similar relationship to the [[devolved]] governments of Scotland, Wales, and [[Northern Ireland]] as to the government of the UK. The sovereign appoints the [[First Minister of Scotland]] on the nomination of the [[Scottish Parliament]],<ref>{{Citation |title=UK Politics: Dewar appointed First Minister |date=17 May 1999 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/345189.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/345189.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[First Minister of Wales]] on the nomination of the [[Senedd]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Brief overview – Government of Wales Act 2006 |url=http://new.wales.gov.uk/legislation/govwalesact2006/briefoverview?lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026023357/http://new.wales.gov.uk/legislation/govwalesact2006/briefoverview?lang=en |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In Scottish matters, the sovereign acts on the advice of the [[Scottish Government]]. However, as devolution is more limited in Wales, in Welsh matters the monarch acts on the advice of the prime minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The sovereign can veto any law passed by the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], if it is deemed unconstitutional by the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Northern Ireland Act 1998 |url=http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730052148/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_2 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The sovereign is deemed the "fount of justice"; although the monarch does not personally rule in judicial cases, judicial functions are performed in his or her name. For instance, prosecutions are brought on the sovereign's behalf, and courts derive their authority from the Crown. The common law holds that the sovereign "can do no wrong", and so cannot be prosecuted for criminal offences. The [[Crown Proceedings Act 1947]] allows civil lawsuits against the Crown in its public capacity (that is, lawsuits against the government), but not lawsuits against the monarch personally. The sovereign exercises the "prerogative of mercy", which is used to [[pardon]] convicted offenders or reduce sentences.<ref name="parl">{{Citation |last1=Durkin, Mary |title=The Royal Prerogative |date=21 December 2005 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-03861.pdf |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625170825/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-03861.pdf |publisher=House of Commons Library |archive-date=25 June 2008 |last2=Gay, Oonagh}}</ref><ref name=PASC/>

The sovereign is the "[[fount of honour]]", the source of all honours and dignities in the United Kingdom. The Crown creates all [[Peerages in the United Kingdom|peerages]], appoints members of the [[knight|orders of chivalry]], grants knighthoods and awards other honours.<ref>{{Citation |last=Dyer |first=Clare |title=Mystery lifted on Queen's powers |date=21 October 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 May 2008 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204103616/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation |url-status=live }}</ref> Although peerages and most other honours are granted on the advice of the prime minister, some honours are within the personal gift of the sovereign and are not granted on ministerial advice. The sovereign alone appoints members of the [[Order of the Garter]], the [[Order of the Thistle]], the [[Royal Victorian Order]] and the [[Order of Merit]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Orders of Chivalry |date=30 April 2007 |url=http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/chivalry.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819024713/http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/chivalry.aspx |publisher=The UK Honours System |access-date=9 May 2008 |archive-date=19 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>